Advent: Week Four
26. In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27. to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O Favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
30. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33. and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1: 26-33
Terrified doesn’t begin to cover it. Terrified? Yes. Shocked? Indubitably. Flabbergasted? Absolutely.
This is one of many reasons why God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. While it is quite safe to assume that Mary would’ve been floored at the sight of Gabriel, rather than fainting out of sheer terror as I would’ve likely done, she takes some time to actual think about what she is seeing, and why.
None of us are perfect, but as much as I want to assume that I would leap at God’s purpose for my life, I can’t speak as to how I would’ve reacted to being told I would give birth to the Messiah. I think I may have been onto something when I mentioned losing consciousness, and quite frankly, I think most of us would!
Mary was awaiting the Messiah, just as every other person who knew the scriptures was. That being said, no one could’ve possible been prepared for what Mary heard when Gabriel appeared to her. I don’t believe that God has yet made my own purpose clear, but when God has called me to things in the past, I was not ready. But He equipped where I needed equipping, and it worked out exactly how it needed to.
For the time being, I am going to put aside my feelings, my assumptions, and my pondering to focus on a part of the message in this scripture: we are given eternity. This baby that Mary has just discovered is growing within her will grow to be a man, the Son of Man. He is the King of all Kings, not only because he is of the House of David, but because he is the Son of God.
In a few short days, it will be Christmas Eve. Sitting in church, I’ll be looking at the nativity scene and gazing upon the baby in the manger. I will pray, and in my prayers I will thank God for the eternity we are entirely unworthy and undeserving of that is freely given.
This baby in the manger? He means forever, always, eternal, everlasting.
Amen.